Pope Appeals To Lawmakers To Defend Life

April 14, 1985|By United Press International

VATICAN CITY — In a thinly veiled attack on abortion, Pope John Paul II urged six visiting U.S. senators Saturday to make a ''monumental contribution'' to the defense of life of ''countless men, women and children -- millions of whom are yet unborn.''

He told the senators Americans have a ''special mission of service'' in the world and that the United States ''must remain faithful to herself as 'one nation under God.' ''

The pontiff did not specifically mention abortion in a 20-minute audience with Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole of Kansas and five other Republican senators. But Vatican sources said he clearly was referring to abortion, which is banned by the Roman Catholic Church and which has been repeatedly condemned by the Polish-born pontiff.

''As senators of the United States, you are in a splendid position to make a monumental contribution to the defense of life, the preservation of liberty and the attainment of true human happiness for countless men, women and children -- millions of whom are yet unborn.''

During the audience at the Throne Room of the Apostolic Palace, Dole handed the pope a personal letter from President Reagan which, Dole said, touched on ''the troubling situation in Central America and arms control talks in Geneva.''

''The president is firmly committed to doing everything reasonably possible to make progress in both these areas,'' Dole told the pope, according to a statement issued by the senator's aides. ''He has outlined constructive steps which our government has taken in the interest of peace.''

Dole told reporters later he and the pope discussed ''areas of common interest to the pope and Reagan.''

But the pope did not refer to any specific international issues in his brief statement, later released by the Vatican.